Miguel Bridges heads to Manhattan to join his former teammates.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Brooklyn Nets reached an agreement to trade Bridges to the New York Knicks on Tuesday night. In return, the Nets will receive Bojan Bogdanovic and future draft capital — including four unprotected first-round picks.
The Knicks are sending four unprotected picks (2025, 2027, 2029, 2031) to Milwaukee for a 2025 protected first, a 2028 unprotected pick swap and a 2025 second-round pick for Michael Bridges and a 2026 second-round pick for 2026, according to ESPN source. https://t.co/E4pTq3wCMP
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024
The deal would reunite former Villanova star Bridges with fellow former Wildcats Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo. Bridges spent three seasons at Villanova and won two national championships there.
This is crazy lol
— Mikal Bridges (@mikal_bridges) June 26, 2024
According to Wojnarowski, the Nets will receive an unprotected first-round pick in 2025, 2027, 2029 and 2031. They will receive a protected first-round pick in 2025, a second-round pick in 2025 and a protected pick swap in 2028 from the Milwaukee Bucks.
Bridges averaged 19.6 points and 4.5 rebounds with the Nets last year, his first full season with the team after signing him with the Phoenix Suns ahead of the 2023 deadline. He has two years left on a four-year, $90.9 million contract.
Pactanovic, 35, was traded to the Knicks from the Detroit Pistons earlier this year and has been instrumental in their playoff run — which has been cut short in the Eastern Conference semifinals for the second straight season. He averaged 10.4 points and two rebounds in 29 games with the franchise.
The Nets, who hired head coach Jordy Fernandez, went just 32-50 last season and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2018. Absolutely possible in the coming years.
While the Knicks still have important things to figure out this offseason — especially when it comes to OG Anunoby — they clearly believe Bridges’ Villanova reunion can propel them to the Eastern Conference Finals after a 25-year drought. Next spring.
Nets trade picks with Rockets reportedly interested in Kevin Durant
Nets are not made there.
Shortly after that deal was announced, the Nets struck a deal with the Houston Rockets to restructure several draft picks.
More on the deal: Houston is the most favorable for Dallas and Phoenix’s first-round pick in 2029 and, according to sources, the least favorable Dallas first and Phoenix receives the right to trade Houston’s first-round pick. https://t.co/jUR0f5lSjM
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024
According to Wojnarowski, the deal was made because the Rockets wanted to make a move to land Suns star Kevin Durant in a future trade. While the Suns haven’t said they’re ready to deal Durant, who will enter his 18th year in the league this fall, the Rockets now have options to scuttle such a deal.
If that can’t happen, the Rockets are “committed” to aggressively using Suns picks elsewhere. The Rockets are said to be “now seeking a major upgrade.” Houston went 41-41 last season and missed the playoffs under first-year head coach Ime Udoka.
This post will be updated with more information soon.
